Personal Statement

I believe in health care that is based on a personal commitment to meet patient needs with compassion and care....more

I believe in health care that is based on a personal commitment to meet patient needs with compassion and care.

More about Dr. Alka Fernandes

Dr. Alka Fernandes is one of the best Pediatricians in Khar West, Mumbai. You can consult Dr. Alka Fernandes at Beams Hospitals in Khar West, Mumbai. Save your time and book an appointment online with Dr. Alka Fernandes on Lybrate.com.

Find numerous Pediatricians in India from the comfort of your home on Lybrate.com. You will find Pediatricians with more than 32 years of experience on Lybrate.com. You can find Pediatricians online in Mumbai and from across India. View the profile of medical specialists and their reviews from other patients to make an informed decision.

You do not need to stop lactation. Just express the breast milk as frequently as you can. There is no substitute to breast milk. Your baby will need the same when he comes back to you. If you do not do that, your milk production will automatically stop.

Feeding uptil 1years is more than sufficient. After that baby gets nothing from feed but mother looses her calcium.
Try to feed your child with proper food at night.
Try to make her sleep with someone elze except you. In few days she will leave the night habit also.

Babies are born with ability to breast feed to sustain, rest all qualities are aquired by proper training. Give your child solid diet at frequent intervals so he learns how to eat solid diet. Gradualy child will start taking meals like you. This way he will shift from liquid to solid diet.

Facts about asthma:Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways.symptoms are wheeze, cough, breathing difficulty.Asthma is a controllable disease.asthma can be diagnosed based on history & Pulmonary function test.Inhaled drugs are the best choice for asthma.Inhaled drugs are safe and practically have no side effects.Asthma symptoms are variable.regular follow-up is required to titrate the drugs.

Hello there,
Plain normal saline nasal drops like plain solvin drops are the best and safest to use at this age. Mostly these are viral infections and resolve spontaneously. If condition persist or is very problematic, can plan to start oral anti-allergic drops. Keep the baby well hydrated and keep giving plenty of fluids.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that results in higher level of blood sugar in the body. It is assuming epidemic proportions and India has become the new diabetic capital with more than 50 million diabetic people. The main problem with diabetes is that it does not completely go away and there is a whole myriad of issues that it brings along with it. Heart attack, stroke, eyesight problems, delayed wound healing, nerve damage and impotence. Therefore, diabetes and by that we mainly mean blood sugar level has to be managed so that there is a delay in onset of the associated conditions and/or reduced in severity.

Ayurveda refers to diabetes as Prameha (excessive urination) and Madhumeha (sugary urine) and has identified close to 20 forms of the disease. According to Ayurvedic belief, each disease is caused due to imbalance in kapha, pitta, and vata doshas and diabetes is caused by all these, predominantly by kapha. With any stream of medicine, management of diabetes involves two tracks one is lifestyle changes and the second is medications.

Ayurveda has a whole lot of home remedies which have proven to be very effective against diabetes:

Jambhul: Eugenia Jambolana whether eaten raw or juice extract has been shown to have beneficial effects in managing sugar levels and cholesterol.

Gymnema sylvestre: Used to manage diabetes for over 2000 years, it reduces sugar cravings and is being touted as the future for diabetes treatment.

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia): It has 3 components that give it strong antidiabetic properties. The charantin reduces blood sugar levels; the polypeptide has insulin-like effects; and lectin that again has hypoglycemic effects.

Bel (Aegle marmelos): Also known as wood apple, leaves of the plant are shown to have antidiabetic properties. 5 to 10 leaves can be chewed on a daily basis to help control blood sugar levels.

Hi lybrate-user, you could give chocolates as a reward in case your daughter eats properly for a week. You could make colorful foods like a colorful fruit yoghurt, fruit custard, soups in winters or fruit shakes. Try making her diet as nutritious as possible by adding veggies and cereals. Do not force feed her. Give her small portions to finish and give frequent and small meals. You could start supplement powders to be added in milk like pediasure etc. Get her weight and height checked regularly on your pediatrician visit and maintain her growth record in order to understand her pattern of growth. Hope that helps.

There is a hormone in the body known as Human Growth Hormone (HGH) that regulates height...
Here are the top 10 ways to increase your height.
Take ashwagandha and lakshadi guggul with milk twice a day
Drink milk
Indulge in Yoga
Stretch your body
Engage in exercise and sports
Get proper sleep
Eat a balanced diet
Enjoy the sunlight...vitamin D
Practice good posture

Babies crying is not always for feed. In the first 3 months crying is more in some babies. It can be due to wet napkins and need for urinating. You have to give other feeds with s spoon and not bottle.

The bonding between parents and baby is complicated and often takes time to gel. While some dads connect with their baby within the early days of birth, it may take a little longer for others and that s perfectly normal. Fathers often assume that the mother will naturally have a stronger bond with the baby than you will. As long as they spend more time with the baby, a bond will develop between the two of them. Certain things that you can do to strengthen the bond between your baby and your partner are as follows:

Develop a baby bond by spending time: Start early and make him talk or sing to your pregnant belly often. This establishes a strong connection before the baby is even born. This helps your newborn to recognize the tone and pattern of each of your voices, later on.

Develop skin contact: Make him hold the baby whenever possible.Stroking their back or rocking them gently in arms invokes a sense of protection and comfort in your baby's mind. This is the best way to bond. The best is when the baby ends up sleeping and resting in the arms of the father. The baby starts to feel secure and comfortable in their presence.

Tell him to help you: Ask him to help you with bathing, dressing, and changing diapers of the baby. A father's involvement in the baby's life is essential. It not just helps the mother but also makes the father an active participant.

Let him burn the mid night oil: Let him to take up the night duty. Ask him to pick up and bring the baby to you for feedings and then take the baby back for burping. This would not only enhance their bonding but also let help you relax a bit.

Let him joke around: Fathers can soothe a crying baby extremely well. Babies pacify instantly, when the parents make funny, silly faces to make them smile.

Encourage a baby's day out: Babies love fresh air, let your partner carry and take them out for a stroll around the block.

Encourage touch: Babies respond to touch. Let him give the baby a massage for 10 to 15 minutes by gently rubbing their legs, belly, arms, and neck.

Be there: Encourage him to make it part of his daily routine, to set aside time every night to play with your little baby.

Attachment is an interactive process. You don't have to be a perfect parent all of the time in order to bond with your baby. Just do your best, and don't worry!